For my project I would want to research the footprints in the field of robotics. Robotics is a field that has been seeing exponential improvements in many of its aspects. Companies like Boston Dynamics have pushed the edge of the potential of robots in the way that they move and operate.

To find out the materials and parts used in the production of robots I found two sources. All robotics can be made out of vastly different materials, but I want to focus mainly on automation robotics such as ones that can replace human workers in factories, food industries, and more. The majority of robotic parts consist of common materials, such as steel, iron, and aluminum for making the strong static parts, such as the arms or bases. Alloying is the process of combining a metal with another metal or other material, in order to create a stronger product with metallic properties. Rubber and glass can also be used for grip and protection, respectively. Bronze, Brass, Copper, Silicon, and many other elements can also be used to create the electronic circuits and boards in the robot.

If This production came to my town of Sterling, there would be interesting ramifications. If robotics were produced and used in Sterling, I think there could be positive and negative aspects. Production of robotics could create many jobs, in research, assembly, and sourcing. These jobs would be great for college educated people. However, my town mostly consists of blue collar workers who would be replaced by these very robots. Many businesses in town are construction, factories and food service. Already, we have begun to see robots starting to replace people in these fronts. McDonald’s has introduced kiosks that you can order food from, and many factories utilize machines to construct products easier, quicker and cheaper. Not only does this pose a problem, but the sourcing and acquisition of materials can be an issue as well. There is a large amount of mining operations and digs around me, so there as a potential for jobs in that aspect. However, I have seen firsthand that these operations can have negative aspects on the surrounding residents and environment. A mining site in downtown sterling has caused many residents to be angry with its loud operations, and the nearby Washacum reservoir has seen many of its wildlife become much less prevalent. I have not seen any examples of this, but I think it is safe to say that the byproducts of these operations are not recycled or handled with care either. In summary, It would be great in the short run for my town to get a boost in its economy, but in the larger scale this could have horrible effects for my community farther down the line.

I think the town committee and legislative board of Massachusetts should be the ones who choose what happens with automation in our town, in addition to input from the towns residents. Since the community is who will be effected by this, we should be the ones who decide. Further down the line into the future, some sort of ethics board should be established that regulates the amount of menial labor tasks that automation takes up. Replace all of these jobs too quick, and there could be bad immediate effects, and disastrous long term effects. Not only that, but allowing robots to surpass humans is a worrying front as well. Approaching the field of robotics and automation needs care and respect from all parties involved.